U.S. patent application number 13/302292 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-01 for light source system.
This patent application is currently assigned to DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.. Invention is credited to June-Jei HUANG.
Application Number | 20120275146 13/302292 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47067743 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120275146 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HUANG; June-Jei |
November 1, 2012 |
LIGHT SOURCE SYSTEM
Abstract
A light source system for use in a projector is provided. The
light source system comprises a main optical axis, a first
sub-optical axis, a second sub-optical axis, at least one first
optical module, at least one second optical module and a third
optical module. The at least one first optical module comprises a
first light source array and a second light source array for
emitting a plurality of first beams and a plurality of second beams
respectively. The at least one second optical module comprises a
third light source array for emitting a plurality of third beams.
The third optical module integrates the first beams, the second
beams and the third beams into a main beam for projection along the
main optical axis.
Inventors: |
HUANG; June-Jei; (Taoyuan
Hsien, TW) |
Assignee: |
DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
Taoyuan Hsien
TW
|
Family ID: |
47067743 |
Appl. No.: |
13/302292 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/230 ;
362/247 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 27/146 20130101;
G02B 27/149 20130101; G03B 21/2033 20130101; G02B 27/143 20130101;
G03B 33/06 20130101; G03B 21/2013 20130101; G02B 27/141
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/230 ;
362/247 |
International
Class: |
F21V 7/00 20060101
F21V007/00; F21V 29/00 20060101 F21V029/00; F21V 9/00 20060101
F21V009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 29, 2011 |
TW |
100115000 |
Claims
1. A light source system for use in a projector, comprising: a main
optical axis; a first sub-optical axis; a second sub-optical axis;
at least one first optical module, comprising: a first light source
array for emitting a plurality of first beams; a second light
source array for emitting a plurality of second beams; and a first
mirror array comprising a plurality of first mirrors, wherein the
first mirrors are adapted to define a plurality of gaps, the first
beams are reflected by the first mirrors of the first mirror array,
the second beams are allowed to pass through the gaps, and the
first mirror array integrates and emits the first beams and the
second beams along the first sub-optical axis; at least one second
optical module, comprising: a third light source array for emitting
a plurality of third beams; and a first stepped mirror comprising a
plurality of first reflecting surfaces, wherein the first
reflecting surfaces are disposed along a first positioning plane
that is not parallel to the first reflecting surfaces, and the
first reflecting surfaces of the first stepped mirror are adapted
to reflect and emit the third beams to the main optical axis along
the second sub-optical axis; and a third optical module adapted to
integrate the first beams, the second beams and the third beams
into a main beam for projection along the main optical axis.
2. The light source system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
light source array comprises a plurality of first sub-light source
arrays for emitting the first beams to the first mirror array and a
second mirror array adjacent to the first mirror array.
3. The light source system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
second mirror array comprises a plurality of second mirrors adapted
to define a plurality of gaps, the first beams are reflected by the
second mirrors of the second mirror array, and the first beams and
the second beams integrated and projected by the first mirror array
are allowed to pass through the gaps and are emitted along the
first sub-optical axis.
4. The light source system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third
light source array comprises a plurality of third sub-light source
arrays adapted to project the third beams to the first reflecting
surfaces of the first stepped mirror.
5. The light source system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third
optical module comprises at least one second stepped mirror, the
second stepped mirror comprises a plurality of second reflecting
surfaces disposed along a second positioning plane that is not
parallel to the second reflecting surfaces, and the second
reflecting surfaces of the second stepped mirror are adapted to
reflect the third beams emitted from the at least one second
optical module along the main optical axis.
6. The light source system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the third
optical module further comprises at least one dichroic mirror for
reflecting the first beams and the second beams emitted from the at
least one first optical module along the main optical axis, and the
third beams reflected by the second stepped mirror is adapted to
pass through the at least one dichroic mirror.
7. The light source system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at
least one dichroic mirror comprises two dichroic mirrors.
8. The light source system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at
least one first optical module of the light source system is two
first optical modules, and the two first optical modules are
disposed along the first sub-optical axis at two opposite sides of
the main optical axis.
9. The light source system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at
least one second module of the light source system is two second
optical modules, and the two second optical modules are disposed
along the second sub-optical axis at two opposite sides of the main
optical axis.
10. The light source system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at
least one second stepped mirror of the third optical module is two
second stepped mirrors.
11. The light source system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first light source array, the second light source array and the
third light source array are laser arrays.
12. The light source system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
first beams or the second beams are red beams.
13. The light source system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
first beams or the second beams are blue beams.
14. The light source system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
third beams are green beams.
15. The light source system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first sub-optical axis are parallel with the second sub-optical
axis, and the first sub-optical axis and the second sub-optical
axis are orthogonal to the main optical axis, respectively.
16. The light source system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first mirror array is an X-cube or cross-type mirror array.
17. The light source system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two
dichroic mirrors are X-cube or cross-type mirrors disposed in the
third optical module.
18. The light source system as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a plurality of cooling devices disposed adjacent to the
first optical module, the second optical module and the third
optical module respectively.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to Taiwan Patent
Application No. 100115000 filed on Apr. 29, 2011.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to a light source system, and
in particular, to a light source system with a plurality of laser
arrays for use in a projector.
[0005] 2. Descriptions of the Related Art
[0006] To cater for demands of high brightness, high luminance and
a high color rendering index, most conventional projectors adopt an
ultra high power (UHP) lamp as a light source.
[0007] With advancement of semiconductor photoelectric technologies
over recent years, solid-state light sources featuring a long
service life, intensive brightness, and a rapid response speed such
as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and lasers have received more and
more attention in the art and are expected to replace the
conventional UHP lamps as light sources of the projectors.
[0008] However, compared to UHP lamps, the solid-state light
sources of the prior art can only provide a low image brightness
due to the low lumen; this makes it difficult to gain popularity
from general consumers.
[0009] Accordingly, an urgent need exists in the art to minimize
the volume of a solid-state light source so that it is more
suitable for use in a miniaturized projector while still providing
an adequate brightness level.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An objective of the present invention is to provide a light
source system and a projector using the same. By using a plurality
of laser sources with a particularly designed structure, the light
source system can provide improved brightness while still be
minimized in volume.
[0011] To achieve the aforesaid objective, the light source system
for use in a projector according to the present invention comprises
a main optical axis, a first sub-optical axis, a second sub-optical
axis, at least one first optical module, at least one second
optical module and a third optical module. The at least one first
optical module comprises a first light source array and a second
light source array adapted to emit a plurality of first beams and a
plurality of second beams respectively. The at least one second
optical module comprises a third light source array adapted to emit
a plurality of third beams. The third optical module is adapted to
integrate the first beams, the second beams and the third beams
into a main beam for projection along the main optical axis.
[0012] The detailed technology and preferred embodiments
implemented for the subject invention are described in the
following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people
skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the
claimed invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a light source
system according to the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the traveling paths
of a plurality of first beams, a plurality of second beams and a
plurality of third beams in the light source system according to
the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a first mirror array
of a first optical module in the light source system according to
the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a second mirror
array of the first optical module in the light source system
according to the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating beam integration in
the first optical module of the light source system according to
the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a first stepped
mirror of a third optical module in the light source system
according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] A light source system for use in a projector is provided in
the present invention. The light source system comprises a main
optical axis, a first sub-optical axis, a second sub-optical axis,
at least one first optical module, at least one second optical
module and a third optical module. Specifically, as shown in FIG.
1, a light source system 200 of this embodiment comprises a main
optical axis 300, a first sub-optical axis 310, a second
sub-optical axis 320, two first optical modules 400, two second
optical modules 500 and a third optical module 600. In this
embodiment, the first sub-optical axis 310 is preferably disposed
in parallel with the second sub-optical axis 320, and both the
first sub-optical axis 310 and the second sub-optical axis 320 are
orthogonal to the main optical axis 300. Meanwhile, the two first
optical modules 400 described above are disposed along the first
sub-optical axis 310 at two opposite sides of the main optical axis
300, and similar to the two first optical modules 400, the two
second optical modules 500 are disposed along the second
sub-optical axis 320 at two opposite sides of the main optical axis
300.
[0021] Specifically, in reference to FIG. 2, the two first optical
modules 400 disposed at the two opposite sides of the first
sub-optical axis 310 each have a first light source array 410, a
second light source array 420, a first mirror array 430 and a
second mirror array 440. The first light source array 410 and the
second light source array 420 are used to emit a plurality of first
beams 810 and a plurality of second beams 820 respectively, and the
first light source array 410 further comprises a plurality of first
sub-light source arrays 411. It shall be appreciated that in this
embodiment, the first light source array 410 preferably comprises
three first sub-light source arrays 411, of which two first
sub-light source arrays 411 are disposed adjacent to the second
light source array 420 and opposite to each other. The other first
sub-light source array 411 is disposed between the two first
sub-light source arrays 411 described above and the main optical
axis 300; and the first beams 810 from the three first sub-light
source arrays 411 are emitted towards the first sub-optical axis
310.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the first light source array 410, the
second light source array 420 and a third light source array 510
shown in FIG. 1 are omitted here for ease of understanding and
description. With reference to FIG. 2, the first mirror array 430
of the first optical module 400 is disposed in a space surrounded
by the two first sub-light source arrays 411 and the second light
source array 420 described above, and the second mirror array 440
is disposed between the first mirror array 430 and the main optical
axis 300 and adjacent to the first mirror array 430.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of a plurality of first
mirrors 431 and a plurality of gaps 432 disposed in the first
mirror array 430. The first mirrors 431 are adapted to define the
plurality of gaps 432. Thus, the first beams 810 are reflected by
the first mirrors 431 of the first mirror array 430 and the second
beams 820 are allowed to pass through the gaps 432 so that the
first beams 810 and the second beams 820 are integrated by the
first mirror array 430 and then emitted along the first sub-optical
axis 310. It shall be appreciated that the first mirrors 431
described above are disposed in parallel in the first mirror array
430 along the Y-axis direction to define the gaps 432 that are also
disposed in parallel along the Y-axis direction; however, as will
be readily known by those skilled in this art, the first mirrors
431 may also be disposed along other directions to define the gaps
432. For instance, the first mirrors 431 may be disposed in
parallel in the first mirror array 430 along the X-axis direction
to define the gaps 432 that are also disposed in parallel along the
X-axis direction, and this can also accomplish the objective of
integrating the first beams 810 and the second beams 820 for
emission along the first sub-optical axis 310.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 5, similar to the first mirror array 430,
the second mirror array 440 has a plurality of second mirrors 441
which are adapted to define a plurality of gaps 442. Thus, the
third beams 830 are reflected by the second mirrors 441 of the
second mirror array 440, and the first beams 810 and the second
beams 820 emitted together from the first mirror array 430 are
allowed to pass through the gaps 442 to travel towards the main
optical axis 300 along the first sub-optical axis 310 together with
the third beams 830. Likewise, positional relationships between the
second mirrors 441 and the gaps 442 can also be readily modified by
those skilled in the art as in the first mirror array 430, so other
implementations of the second mirror array 440 will not be further
described herein.
[0025] Hereinbelow, the relationships among the first sub-light
source array 411, the second light source array 420, the first
mirror array 430 and the second mirror array 440 in each of the
first optical modules 400 will be further described herein. As
shown in FIG. 6, the two first sub-light source arrays 411 disposed
outside the first mirror array 430 are adapted to emit the first
beams 810 towards the first sub-optical axis 310 respectively so
that the first beams 810 are reflected by the first mirrors 431;
meanwhile, the second light source array 420 disposed outside the
first mirror array 430 is adapted to emit the second beams 820
along the first sub-optical axis 310 so that the second beams 820
pass through the gaps 432. In this way, the first beams 810 and the
second beams 820 emitted by the two first sub-light source arrays
411 and the second light source array 420 respectively are adapted
to be integrated by the first mirror array 430 to travel towards
the second mirror array 440 disposed adjacent to the first mirror
array 430. The first beams 810 and the second beams 820 from the
first mirror array 430 pass through the gaps 442 of the second
mirror array 440 and are then integrated with the first beams 810
which are emitted from the other first sub-light source array 411
and reflected by the second mirrors 441; and then, all these beams
propagate together towards the main optical axis 300 along the
first sub-optical axis 310. Likewise, the other first optical
module 400 disposed with respect to the main optical axis 300
functions also in the same way, so it will not be further described
herein.
[0026] In reference to FIG. 2, the two second optical modules 500
each comprise a third light source array 510 and a first stepped
mirror 520, and are disposed at two sides of the main optical axis
300 along the second sub-optical axis 320. Hereinafter, only one of
the second optical modules 500 will be firstly described herein. In
reference to FIG. 7 as well, the third light source array 510 of
the second optical module 500 comprises two third sub-light source
arrays 511 adapted to emit a plurality of third beams 830. The
first stepped mirror 520 comprises a plurality of first reflecting
surfaces 521 disposed along a first positioning plane 522 that is
not parallel with the first reflecting surfaces 521. The first
reflecting surfaces 521 of the first stepped mirror 520 are adapted
to reflect the third beams 830 to the main optical axis 300 along
the second sub-optical axis 320. Likewise, the other second optical
module 500 disposed with respect to the main optical axis 300
functions also in the same way, so it will not be further described
herein. Additionally, in this embodiment, each of the first
reflecting surfaces 521 preferably includes an angle of 45 degrees
with the second sub-optical axis 320 so that a reflection angle of
90 degrees is formed when each of the third beams 830 is incident
on the first reflecting surfaces 521.
[0027] In reference to FIG. 3, the third optical module 600 is
adapted to integrate the first beams 810 emitted by the first light
source array 410, the second beams 820 emitted by the second light
source array 420 and the third beams 830 emitted by the third light
source array 520 into a main beam 800 for projection along the main
optical axis 300. Specifically, the third optical module 600
comprises two dichroic mirrors 610 and a second stepped mirror 620.
The second stepped mirror 620 has a plurality of second reflecting
surfaces 621 disposed along a second positioning plane 622 that is
not parallel with the second reflecting surfaces 621. The second
reflecting surfaces 621 of the second stepped mirror 620 are
adapted to reflect the third beams 830 emitted from the second
optical modules 500 along the main optical axis 800. Because the
second stepped mirror 620 has just the same function as the first
stepped mirror 520, it will not be further described herein.
[0028] Additionally, the two dichroic mirrors 610 disposed between
the two first optical modules 400 are adapted to reflect the first
beams 810 and the second beams 820 emitted from the two first
optical modules 400 respectively along the main optical axis 310,
and the third beams 830 reflected by the second reflecting surfaces
621 as described above are adapted to pass through the two dichroic
mirrors 610 so that the first beams 810, the second beams 820 and
the third beams 830 are integrated by the third optical module 600
into the main beam 800.
[0029] In this embodiment, the first light source array 410, the
second light source array 420 and the third light source array 510
described above are all laser arrays. The first beams 810 and the
second beams 820 emitted by the two first optical modules 400 are
blue beams and red beams respectively, while the third beams 830
emitted by the two second optical modules 500 are all green beams.
Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2, the first mirror array 430 of the
first optical module 400 is an X-cube or cross-type mirror array,
while the two dichroic mirrors 610 are X-cube or cross-type mirrors
disposed in the third optical module 600. Moreover, the light
source system 200 further comprises a plurality of cooling devices
(not shown) disposed adjacent to the two first optical modules 400,
the two second optical modules 500 and the third optical module 600
respectively to reduce their operating temperatures effectively and
quickly during operation.
[0030] According to the above descriptions, through the cooperation
of the two first optical modules 400, the two second optical
modules 500 and the third optical module 600 in the light source
system 200 of the present invention, the red laser beams, the blue
laser beams and the green laser beams emitted by the individual
light source arrays respectively can be integrated and redirected
by the first mirror array 430, the second mirror array 440, the
first stepped mirror 520 and the second stepped mirror 620 to be
projected along the main optical axis 800. In this way, the volume
of the laser light source can be minimized and the brightness level
of the laser light source can be effectively improved.
[0031] The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical
contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this
field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements
based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as
described without departing from the characteristics thereof.
Nevertheless, although such modifications and replacements are not
fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have substantially
been covered in the following claims as appended.
* * * * *